In the gentle Priestdale bushland, Venerable Manwang points to evidence that a kangaroo has visited the temple.
The structure around her rises quietly yet unmistakably, not only in structure but in the life it brings to the local community.
Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Temple is a living testament to devotion, culture, and the patient work of one woman who has devoted her life to creating what she refers to as a spiritual home.
Venerable Manwang is Abbess of the temple and custodian of its three-decade-long story.
She has been away, learned new skills, and now looks to manage the construction of a new building. But this is where her Australian journey began.
It might be where she stays, but she doesn’t mind. She will continue to learn. And she will continue to follow the path set for her, whatever that might be.
Born to a Chinese father and Taiwanese mother, Manwang’s early life straddled two cultures, two languages, and two worldviews.
Her father, a soldier among a million in the Chinese military, was nevertheless a quiet advocate of peace.
“As a teenager, I was already starting to think about the meaning of life. My dad always told us that peace was important,” she recalls. These early reflections sowed the seeds for a life that would eventually turn toward inner calm and service to others.
At 22, after three years at Chung Tai Chan Buddhist College in central Taiwan, she committed fully to the monastic path.
Her early years in temple camps and retreats convinced her that this life — disciplined, contemplative, and purposeful — was the path where she could find true inner peace.
Her journey brought her to Australia on 28 September 1991, the Birthday of Confucius. At the time, the Priestdale site was little more than a small house.
“A local brought me an offering,” she says. “It was a gift of welcome to the house where I was living.”
That moment marked the start of a journey that continues to this day.
Under the guidance of her teacher, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder of the Fo Guang Shan order, Manwang absorbed not just the discipline of Buddhist practice but the vision of how a temple could be a living, breathing centre for community.
“Most of my skills in managing a temple came from the grand master,” she says.
Hsing Yun’s teachings offered her both inspiration and practical wisdom: how to guide people, how to foster harmony, and how to turn physical spaces into places of spiritual meaning.
Yet it is clear that while she carries his teachings forward, the temple’s pulse beats through her leadership and care.
Stage 1 of the Priestdale temple began in 1991. Over the following decades, Manwang’s experience grew beyond the construction site.
She returned to Taiwan in 1997 for six months of meditation, learning the rhythms of temple life in depth — even the subtleties of running the kitchen.
From 1998 to 2003, she served in Perth, Melbourne, and Auckland, supporting temple renovations, sharing her knowledge, and guiding communities through change.
“I’m helping create a spiritual home, and that is very important to me,” she says.
Today, Chung Tian Temple is one of Logan’s largest tourist attractions, home to about 1000 members.
While 80 per cent are of Chinese heritage, many travel from the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to participate in ceremonies.
The temple offers chanting in English, reflecting Manwang’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. Community facilities now include a museum, cafés, school spaces, a popular scout group, and places of worship.
Manwang’s personal skills extend beyond the spiritual. Few realise she holds a business degree, which she has put to practical use managing temple finances and overseeing ongoing extensions, expected to be completed in 2027.
Her leadership style blends strategic planning with a grounded attention to the spiritual and emotional needs of her community.
For Manwang, life is a constant practice in presence and acceptance.
“I live in the moment,” she says. “I don’t think I’ll ever retire. I apply for a change [in location] every three years, and I’m happy to follow the path that is set out for me. Finding peace is not easy; you have to be trained, and I am always learning.”
The temple itself has grown with her, navigating more than 30 years of approvals and construction in a sensitive koala habitat.
From the small house where she first arrived, it has transformed into a sanctuary that merges cultural, educational, and spiritual life.
Its Abbess is at the heart of the expansion. Every decision — whether guiding members, overseeing building projects, or shaping community programs — reflects her careful balance of practical wisdom and spiritual insight.
“I can’t understand why Taiwan can’t be independent,” she says thoughtfully, turning her focus to broader human concerns.
“People want peace, and we have to consider what is the benefit for people. People don’t want to be bound by politics.
“We have to put politics aside and consider what is best in terms of economics and education.”
After being away, Manwang returned to Priestdale in 2019, a symbolic homecoming to the beginnings of her Australian journey.
Now, as the temple prepares for another stage of expansion, her focus remains on nurturing community, creating spiritual homes, and cultivating peace.
In the quiet corridors of Chung Tian, the Abbess continues her work — patient, devoted, and ever learning in her mission for enlightenment.
